Bangladesh PM Hasina resigned, interim govt to be formed: Army chief

In Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and an interim government will be formed to run the country, Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said Monday. Addressing the nation Army Chief Waker Uz Zaman made announcement in this regard."There is a crisis in the country. I have met Opposition leaders and we have decided to form an interim government to run this country. I take all responsibility and promise to protect your life and property. Your demands will be fulfilled. Please support us and stop violence. If you work with us, we can move towards a proper solution. We cannot achieve anything through violence," he said.   

Watch: "New government will take over," said Bangladesh Army Chief Waker Uz Zaman, While addressing the country pic.twitter.com/zt24JvGzjP

— IANS (@ians_india) August 5, 2024

Nation wide curfew has been imposed in Bangladesh. Mobile internet access also restricted.Ms Hasina, who started her fifth term as Prime Minister earlier this year, left state capital Dhaka in a military helicopter and may be headed to a safer location in India.

Bangladesh's dictator, Sheikh Hasina, has been flown to the @BD_Air_Force base in Kurmitola at 1425 hours local time. Sources claim that from there, Hasina will travel to a third country. If this information is correct, it would signify the end of Sheikh Hasina's reign of terror… pic.twitter.com/orGSyxVVaQ

— Sami (@ZulkarnainSaer) August 5, 2024

Her departure comes after weeks of anti-government violence that left more than 300 people dead.Thousands of protesters stormed her official residence, Ganabhaban, in Dhaka as reports emerged that Hasina and her sister, Sheikh Rehana, had departed for a "safe shelter".The protests in Bangladesh, which began last month and escalated swiftly, started as an agitation against a quota system under which 30 per cent of government jobs were reserved for family members of Muktijoddhas -- those who fought in Bangladesh's war of independence in 1971. The protesters have said this system favours supporters of the ruling Awami League and want a merit-based system to replace it. As the protests grew, the Awami League dispensation tried to crush it with an iron hand. In the clashes that followed, more than 300 people were killed.